Until Our Time Comes ~ Review

Until Our Time Comes
A Novel of World War II Poland
By Nicole M. Miller

Adia Kensington is living a life she loves; she's the trainer of the priceless Arabians raised at the Janów Podlaski stables in Poland. But unrest lies in wait on the horizon as war with Germany moves ever closer every day. Adia will do whatever it takes to keep her beloved horses safe, even face the German army. 

Bret Conway never thought he'd be affected by anyone the way his first meeting with Adia did. But when life and the threat of war get in the way of something more. Yet over the next several years, they keep coming together in unexpected ways and the horses Adia cares for are at the center of everything.

Until Our Time Comes is set in Poland and takes place between 1939 and 1946. Europe is caught in a war, and anyone and anything standing in the path of the war machines making their way across the continent will be crushed. Adia and Bret have duties and commitments that stand in the way of their finding love, although the possibility exists. The title so aptly fits their lives as they both look to a tomorrow without war, one where dreaming about the future seems as if it is a possibility rather than a hopeless dream. 

This was a good read. Unlike most WW2 fiction, it has horses as the focal point, with the wider story branching out from it. It is highly recommended for readers of historical fiction. This is a book of determination and dedication.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:


American horse trainer Adia Kensington is living her dream of working at the famous Janów Podlaski stables in Poland, where they breed the best Arabian horses in the world. But her plans to bring the priceless stallion Lubor to the US are derailed when the German army storms into her adopted country in 1939. Little does she know this is just the beginning of six long years of occupation that will threaten her beloved horses at every turn.

Major Bret Conway is at Janów Podlaski under the guise of a news reporter, but his true mission is intelligence gathering for the British. That and keeping Adia safe, which is harder and harder to do as she insists they must evacuate 250 horses to save them from being stolen, sold, or eaten by the invading forces. What follows will test their physical, mental, and emotional strength, as well as their faith in God, humankind, and each other.

Drawn from true events of World War II, this epic story of escape, capture, resistance, and love from debut novelist Nicole M. Miller will thunder into your heart like a herd of beautiful horses across a raging river.

Shattered Revision ~ Now Available

 Available Now!

Shattered Revision by Madisyn Carlin 

from The Shattered Lands 

comes a prequel that is 

inspired by Sleeping Beauty.

Beware the truth, for it could cost you your life.

Available to purchase at Amazon

Locksmith-turned-soldier Canon Norr is finally free from war. When his best friend calls in a favor, however, he finds himself stepping right back into danger and potential bloodshed. Protecting the innocent woman targeted by evil schemers would be easy if she wasn’t so distracting and unlike any noble he’s ever before encountered.

Lady Silci Clanna spent most of her life in hiding, but when her people need a leader, she finds herself stepping forward and exposing her existence to those who’ve desired her death since she was born. Can her best friend and a handsome, yet ornery and sarcastic foreigner help her live long enough to see her people finally free from bloodshed and hardship? Or will her enemies finally succeed and end the Clanna line?

As desperation mounts and a malevolent plot is brought to light, Canon and Silci are confronted by danger at every turn. Hope wanes and danger grows, and with it a terrifying revelation—in order for most to survive, one must die.

Shattered Revision is a New Adult Christian fantasy tale inspired by Sleeping Beauty and is the prequel to The Shattered Lands series.

The Shattered Lands
Shattered Revision - Prequel
Shattered Reflection - Book One
Shattered Reaction - Book Two
Shattered Resistance - Book Three
Shattered Redemption - Book Four (Available for Preorder)
Shattered Risk - Novella (Coming late 2025)

The Lady Glass ~ Review

The Lady Glass
An Enchanted Regency Romance #3
By Anneka R. Walker

Theresia Dvor lost everything on the day her father died. Everything except the priceless crystal vase her father left her in his will. But her step-mother has kept the vase from her while hiding her away in a boarding school for nearly a decade. With a bid for a life of her own Theresia determines to take back what is hers only to discover it has been sold. Not to be thwarted from her prized possession Theresia follows the vase to Ashbury Court and into a danger she never expected. 

When Theresia's plan to discover the whereabouts of her vase find her take an unexpected turn she finds herself reluctantly accepting help from Captain Rolland Reese. Rolland is a man who must stop a murderer from killing his father and Theresia's unexpected appearance and anonymity provide a chance to uncover the truth before it is too late. 

The Glass Lady is a Regency-era retelling of Cinderella and it is most delightfully spun into a unique tale that is identifiable as Cinderella but on a subtle barely there whisper. I loved all the layers that came together in this thoroughly satisfying read. Theresia is wholly new and refreshing wronged heroine who refuses to sit idly by while her life is stolen from her. Her isolation from society has left her with an innocence that leads her into situations she hasn't fully thought out beforehand. Fortunately Rolland, though scarred by all he experienced by his service, has a kindhearted nature and aids her how he can. 

This book is part of the author's Enchanted Regency Romance series but it can easily be read and enjoyed as a standalone title. The book is well written, the characters engaging and the villain reveal is definitely well executed keeping it well hidden throughout the book. A definite addition to your TBR list, especially if you are a fan of Historical Romance or Regency Fiction.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Theresia Dvorak has nothing left of her parents—nothing save her dowry, a priceless crystal vase stolen and sold by her own stepmother. Theresia will do anything to secure what is rightfully hers—even assume a false identity and steal her future back. When she gains entrance to a house party and has a memorable run-in with the handsome naval captain Rolland Reese, her mission is compromised. She swore never to trust an Englishman again, but when he makes a daring proposal she cannot refuse, she must work side by side with him if either of them is to achieve their aim.

Rolland is stunned when his homecoming from the war takes a decidedly deadly turn. The quickest solution is to throw a house party and invite all the suspects. With the stakes incredibly high, Rolland must root out the killer before they turn their sights to the next potential victim: his own father. The mysterious Theresia is undoubtedly the most suspicious of his guests, but against all odds, he finds himself risking everything to protect her. As Rolland unravels a tangle of clues, he faces the greatest threats of all: a heart of fire and a future as fragile as glass.

AUTHOR BIO

Anneka R. Walker is a best-selling author of historical and contemporary romance. With humor and an abundance of heart, she crafts uplifting stories you won't soon forget. She is the winner of the Swoony Award, the LDSPMA Praiseworthy Award, and various chapter contests. Her books have received praise from Publishers Weekly, Historical Novel Society, Midwest Book Review, and Readers Favorite. She graduated from Brigham Young University-Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in English and history and hopes to never stop learning. She is a blessed wife, proud mother of five, lover of Jesus, connoisseur of chocolate, and believer in happy endings.

Meeting Her Match ~ Review

 

Meeting Her Match

The Matchmakers #3

By Jen Turano

 

 Miss Camilla Pierpont has a most perplexing morning when she narrowly escapes an abduction attempt. Unfortunately for Mr. Owen Chesterfield, she mistakes him, during a rather humorous exchange for one of the attempted abductees. 

Owen just can't understand how his polite exchange with Camilla annoys her so much. He is, after all, very complimentary But not to Camilla's way of thinking. But his request for help in taming his younger sister into a society-type of lady couldn't come at a better time as danger is afoot within her normal sphere of influence. She's always up for a challenge and this one a doozy.

Luella Chesterfield has not only had her heart broken, but thoroughly trodden upon and shoved back at her. And she is in need of Camilla's excellent skills when it comes to making a favorable impression on anyone.

This nook is the third in The Matchmakers series and it is a lighthearted read in spite of the kidnapping attempts and the slights Luella gets thanks to an awkward feud between the local families that she is caught in the middle of. And the ending is not to be missed - I get Beverly Hillbilly vibes when reading it. 

 

Jen Turano gives Historical Fiction a  fun and enjoyable lighthearted twist that is sure to lift your mood with just one chapter.  Meeting Her Match is a not to be missed read that can be read as a standalone title if you have not read the previous titles in the series. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

 

BOOK DESCRIPTION

Miss Camilla Pierpont, a renowned matchmaker and influential member of the New York Four Hundred, has vowed never to marry after suffering a devastating heartbreak during her debut years ago. However, when she is nearly abducted along the Hudson River, she finds herself rescued by an annoyingly outspoken, albeit fascinating, gentleman who challenges her in a manner she wasn't expecting.

After learning that Camilla Pierpont has enjoyed success with taking wayward young ladies in hand, Mr. Owen Chesterfield travels to the Hudson River Valley determined to convince Camilla to sponsor his sister, who is in desperate need of social rehabilitation.

Knowing her life is in danger, Camilla agrees to Owen's proposition and travels with him to West Virginia, finding herself charmed by the less-than-formal attitude of his small hometown, as well as by Owen himself. But danger waits in the shadows, disrupting what she knows would be the most spectacular match she's ever made--her own.

AUTHOR BIO

Named one of the funniest voices in inspirational romance by Booklist, Jen Turano is a USA Today bestselling author known for penning quirky historical romances set in the Gilded Age. Her books have earned Publishers Weekly and Booklist starred reviews, top picks from RT Book Reviews, and praise from Library Journal. She's been a finalist twice for the RT Reviewers' Choice Awards and had two of her books listed in the top 100 romances of the past decade from Booklist. She and her family live outside of Denver, Colorado. 

 

Readers can find her on Facebook, Instagram, and X, and at JenTurano.com.

Midnight Clear ~ Review

Midnight Clear

Guardians Unleashed Prequel

By Jerusha Agen

 

I always enjoy getting the background info and Midnight Clear gives just a glimpse of that in this Guardians Unleashed prequel novella. It is a short story set at Christmas and a not-so-sweet occurrence happens.

Marion Ainsley, who trains and takes in unwanted dogs, finds herself hosting (not by choice) an undercover cop and a baby.  Her holidays and her life, in general, are fairly solitary other than her maybe friend Phoenix Gray. Yes, THE Phoenix Gray, of the Guardians, and she's as mysterious as ever in this book.

But Marion has resigned herself to a life without a family of her own. She knows what she looks like and that people can't see beyond her outer appearance. So, she is totally baffled by this stranger who entered her life because of a Minnesota snowstorm. 

This will be a Christmas unlike any she has ever experienced, not just because her life is in danger.

This is a page-turner that fans of the Guardians Unleashed series will want to read yesterday. This gives one more piece of the puzzle that is Phoenix Gray.

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

About the Book:

Her worst fear is another Christmas alone.
Until she isn’t alone.

Christmas is supposed to be a happy time. Marion Ainsley is determined this holiday will be everything it’s never been for her. She’s placed gifts under the tree for the dogs in her shelter, Forever Home, and watched every romantic Christmas movie she can find. All she’s missing is a person to love her despite the scars that have driven her into hiding.

Her dream of a real Christmas crumbles when a blizzard moves in, bringing more than snow. She finds a man half-buried on her property. And he’s holding a baby.

The unexpected visitors are being chased by enemies far more frightening. People who will stop at nothing to get what they want.

Will Marion’s mysterious friend, Phoenix Gray, and an undercover police officer be able to keep her safe? Or will this Christmas be her last?

 

Nightmare Virus ~ Review

Nightmare Virus
By Nadine Brandes

In a world where technology goes wrong, falling asleep could kill you. Dreams have been manipulated so that you can go where you want in them. But somehow a virus has attached itself to the biological components of this technology and once you are infected you have less than one month to live. You are drawn into sleep, each day you have one less hour in the waking world, until you never again awaken.

Beware the Nightmare Virus!

Cain Cross is going to help his brother find a cure before it is too late. But when he to becomes infected he discovers the world within the virus and it is even more dangerous than the virus that has brought him there. He is in a fight for his life and his soul!

This book is a delight to the senses as author Nadine Brandes brings her newest world to life. Dark tunnels, a burning arena, half truths, and lies. The only way to survive is to understand the rules before they change. And if you die in your nightmare you will never wake again.

This book is as great a read as the cover appears to be. I mean look at it and this is the book. This is one book you can judge by its cover and you won't be disappointed. This definitely for fans of Dystopian Fiction and Speculative, Christian Fantasy. 

I was provided a complimentary copy of this book with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

 

About the Book:

Some viruses go after the body.
But the Nightmare Virus goes after the mind.

When dream technology goes wrong, a virus spreads across the globe, trapping people in a universal dreamscape. They call it the Nightmare Virus.

Cain Cross is determined to find a cure . . . if he can decipher his brother’s chicken-scratch formula notes. But when he gets infected, he has only 22 days until he’s trapped in the mental prison forever. Now, every time he falls asleep, he must fight in a Nightmare Arena until he earns his freedom to live in the “new world” that exists only in the mind.

Then he finds a way to manipulate the Nightmare—to change it by mere thought.

Forced to navigate a world of nightbeasts, mistblades, and half-truths, Cain turns his focus to survival. When the Emperor offers him a LifeSuPod—and access to a cure—in exchange for a dangerous favor, Cain thinks he’s found a way out. But Cain’s new power threatens to take him on paths that jeopardize his very soul.

Will he continue searching for a cure, or will he swear allegiance to the Nightmare? And the bigger question might be . . . will he even have a choice?

 

The Novel Matrix ~ Review

The Novel Matrix
The Complete Novel Writing Guide
By Brad Pauquette

As anyone who has written a book will tell you it is a big deal. Writing takes work, dedication, and time. But how do you plan and structure the story you want to write so you can go from point A to point B?

In The Novel Matrix author Brad Pauquette calls upon his years of experience helping writers do just that and presents them in this book. I loved how he stated that story in your vehicle to change the world. And this book gives you the tools and knowledge to create your vehicle.

This book provides you with an understanding of the structure and elements you need understand to create a universe in which your story and the characters who live within it will come alive. This is the recipe for creating your story, it is up to you, the writer to follow it. 

This book is a resource you'll want to have readily on hand to refer to as you'll want to refer to it throughout your writing journey. If you are in a writing group this will be a resource you'll want to share with your fellow writers - it provides good information in an easy to follow language that won't scare you away from the written page you are about to create.

I was provided a complimentary ARC of this title with no expectations but that I provide my honest opinion. All thoughts expressed are my own.

Available to purchase at https://amzn.to/3zJE3j8 

About the Book:

Spoiler: There’s no secret code for writing a bestselling novel.

But there are fundamental principles of story structure that will make your novel work.

Once you understand these fundamentals, writing a novel transforms from a chaotic, enigmatic roller coaster into a succinct and sensible process.

Whether you’re a new writer or you’ve written several manuscripts, if you’re not yet achieving what you’d like to achieve with your writing—The Novel Matrix is for you. Hundreds of authors just like you have used this remarkable system to begin and improve their novel writing.

What is a matrix? A matrix is either the natural substance in which something forms, or it can be an interrelated system of information. The Novel Matrix is both.

The Novel Matrix explores the natural principles of storytelling that humans instinctively understand and expect in great stories. This is the foundation from which great artwork is born.

The Novel Matrix also relates plot, characters, conflict, and setting together in a way that no other craft book has done. Written in simple, nonacademic language, this is the honest, elegant solution for long-form storytelling you’ve been waiting for.

Armed with this information, you’ll never begin another novel manuscript only to abandon it partway through the writing.

Never again will you completely overhaul a novel manuscript because it just doesn’t work, but you have no idea why.
The solution is The Novel Matrix.

As one writing student put it, “The Novel Matrix makes novel-writing scandalously simple.” Don’t start another project without it.